2016年CRI Inclusive Campaign Helps out Autistic Children in China

New Hope Autism Support Center located at Chaoyang district in Beijing.

Here various activities are available for both normal children and those with autism. 

Director Jin Yisha says inclusive education aims to help children with disabilities, including autistic children, learn to live in a normal social environment.

"We have allocated 1 time in our curriculum for children to choose activities according to areas. For example, if a child chooses "building zone," he or she should build a sky scraper with other children who choose the same area with him. Then they will have interactions. And there will also be some quarrels and conflicts. But we try not to interfere 2 and let them settle the problems on their own. Then they can learn the right way to interact with others. This is what we call social integration 3. And it's really important for autistic children. "

7-year-old Xuanxuan studies at the center, and is a child with autistic tendencies. 

His father says he has made great improvement here in the center.

"He's in good mood since he came here. If I send him to a normal kindergarten, I'm afraid he couldn't catch up the classes and will feel frustrated 4. But here he can receive education and classes which are specially 5 designed for children like him and help him find confidence."

The father said children like his son need a friendly environment and strong family support.

"Before my child was diagnosed with autism, I put all my energies into work and spent little on the child and my family. Now I put more attention to the life and I look at it from another perspective. I feel really grateful."

Autistic children are also known as "Children of Stars" in China, which means they are as innocent and pure as beautiful stars. And like the stars they are also as lonely and desolate 6.

According to the China Education Association, the total number of people in China with autism could be over 10 million, with about 2 million children under 14 years old.

A lack of special education teachers, however, is the biggest problem in China hindering efforts to enroll 7 autistic children into regular schools.

It was not until 2000 that the first college for special education was opened at Beijing Union University. 

Jin Yisha with the New Hope Autism Support Center says it is still difficult to hire a trained teacher of special education.

"when we contacted some schools in other places, we found most of them just wanted to push out autistic students instead of offering some teachers to receive professional training. Though they show willingness to be responsible for the autistic children, they in deed wanted to send the children to other special rehabilitation 8 schools. In fact the matter is not as complicate 9 as they suppose to be. Actually those regular schools could offer inclusive education themselves."

The Education of autistic children in China is largely dependent upon private rehabilitation schools and training centers. 

There are 77,000 autistic children registered in rehabilitation organizations nationwide.

China has invested 432 million yuan in rehabilitation for autistic children, but many are in urgent need of professional help.

The government promises to invest more for the education and rehabilitation of autistic children, and a public medical aid system will also be established.